Bonanza for govt staff
Chandigarh, November 2
In a major Rs 800 crore pre-poll bonanza to its employees, the Punjab Government today announced the Assured Career Progression Scheme in the pre-May 28, 2009 format with immediate effect from November 1, 2011.

Badal, Capt launch scathing attacks
Moga, November 2
Almost all Congress leaders at a party rally here today praised social activist Anna Hazare for his efforts to mobilise civil society against corruption.
PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh addresses a rally in Moga. A Tribune photograph

Watch your words: CM to Amarinder
Zora Chittran (Gurdaspur), November 2
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal slammed PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh for using unparliamentary language against him and his kin. The CM, who was here to attend the village’s annual festival, said: “I am of Amarinder’s father’s age and he should show respect to those elder to him, irrespective of their party affiliations. I suggest that he takes lessons on how to address those senior to him in age. I have stopped my party activists from retaliating.”Parkash Singh Badal, Chief Minister

When government’s eco claims went up in smoke
Patiala/Bathinda, Nov 2
Tall claims of the state government’s concern about the environment and earnest efforts to bring down the air pollution level in the state were exposed at the inaugural function of the second edition of the Kabaddi World Cup. The function witnessed bursting of crackers three times during yesterday’s show.
The inaugural ceremony, arrival of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister
Sukhbir Badal and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was marked by a
glittering display of fireworks and bursting of crackers.

Badals will have to explain their ill-gotten wealth, says Manpreet
Chandigarh, November 2
Hailing the issuance of notices to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on a PIL claiming the transport policy had been tweaked to favour the
Badals, People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Badal today said the father-son duo would have to give an account of their “ill-gotten” wealth.

Don’t allot ticket to tainted cops: Khalra Mission
Amritsar, November 2
The Khalra Mission Organisation (KMO) today warned the ruling SAD against allotting a party ticket to former SSP Izhar Alam in the coming Assembly elections, while announcing that if the SAD fielded Alam they would protest against it in all the 117 assembly constituencies of the state.

Local leaders gearing up for Gadkari, Advani visits
Ludhiana, November 2
As the state goes to the polls early next year, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are all set to visit the city this month. While BJP national president Nitin Gadkari will visit the city on November 5, senior BJP leader LK Advani will address a rally in here on November 13. Local leaders, vying for the party ticket, are reportedly preparing for a show of strength during the two occasions.

Jaspreet’s patience rewarded
Faridkot, November 2
Five days after The Tribune highlighted the troubles of a promising national-level kabaddi player who met with cervical injuries in the playground during the national kabaddi championship in Patiala 10 years ago, leaving her wheelchair-ridden for life, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today presented a cheque for Rs 1 lakh as financial assistance to Jaspreet
Kaur.After The Tribune highlighted her plight, this wheelchair-ridden kabaddi player received a cheque of Rs 1 lakh from the Deputy CM on Wednesday

CRACKDOWN ON ENCROACHERS: A police team carries out an anti-encroachment drive in Patiala
on Wednesday. Photo: JS Virdi

Dubey quits as state Election Commissioner
Chandigarh, November 2
The State Election Commissioner Ashok Kumar Dubey submitted his resignation to Governor Shivraj Patil here today. Sources said the resignation will be effective from November 15. Dubey was set to retire in mid-December.

Comprehensive mobility plan for Patiala in final stages
Patiala, November 2
With a view to ending the parking woes in the city, the Municipal Corporation authorities have claimed that the comprehensive mobility plan
(CMP) for Patiala is in its final stages. According to top MC officials, once the CMP is sanctioned, the recommendations would be implemented in different phases after which the problem of traffic jams, especially of parking, would be resolved.With motorists parking their vehicles on the road, traffic jams have become the order of the day in Patiala. Tribune photo: Rajesh Sachar

Police recruitment begins amid tight security
Fatehgarh Sahib, November 2
The process for the recruitment of 154 police constables in Fatehgarh Sahib District started here at the grounds of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College grounds. On the first day 800 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test (PET) which comprised the 1600-metre race, long jump and
high jump.

Tsunami-hit artisans bank on Patiala craft mela
Patiala, November 2
While the craft mela being organised at Sheesh Mahal here provides a platform to the artists to showcase their culture and talent, it means a lot more for artisans from Annal Salai village in Tamil Nadu, most of whom are tsunami victims.

Amritsar Improvement Trust Case
Explain if charge sheet is as per SC directions, Punjab told
Chandigarh, November 2
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the State of Punjab to explain whether the charge sheet prepared by the Punjab Police in the Amritsar Improvement Trust case was in accordance with the directions issued by the apex court.
Capt Amarinder Singh

Bus driver arrested with fake currency
Bathinda, November 2
The Mansa police today claimed to have arrested the bus driver from Tarn Taran with Rs 4.42 lakh fake currency in his possession. The accused has been identified as Satnam Singh of Gazal village in Tarn
Taran.

Tainted cops land govt in the dock
HC tells Punjab to file affidavit on retaining 43 convicted officials in service Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 2
Punjab’s move to hold on to tainted cops has apparently landed the state in trouble.

Taking exception, the Punjab and Haryana High Court today gave two weeks’ time to state Home Secretary to file an affidavit on retaining 43 convicted police officials in service. The Home Secretary was also directed to spell out the action the state proposes to initiate against 1,398 tainted police officials facing criminal cases.

The directions came after two PILs against the continuation of tainted Punjab Police officials came up for resumed hearing before the Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Rajiv Narain Raina.

Taking up the PIL filed by Resurgence India through counsel APS Shergill on the basis of information received under the RTI information in 2009, the Bench expressed its dismay over the fact that the list of tainted cops included police officials facing charges of murder, rape and kidnappings.

The Bench, in the open court, wondered how the tainted police officials could be given vital positions and assignments in the Police Department.

Shergill added the officers were the hot favorites of the government and posted in key constituencies just before the elections.

In the other PIL, advocate HC Arora had sought directions for removal of DSP Bhupinder Singh Khatra, an inspector, two sub-inspectors, three ASIs, 12 head constables and 21 constables.

The removal is being sought on the ground that all of them have been convicted for criminal offences, but the state has retained them in service on extraneous grounds.

As the PIL came up for resumed hearing, the state counsel sought some more time for filing the requisite affidavit.

Fixing November 17 as the next date of hearing in both the cases, the Bench made it amply clear that the court may have to perform an unpleasant duty if the government failed to take action against the convicted police officials as per law.

Acting tough

The Punjab and Haryana High Court gives two weeks' time to Punjab Home Secretary to file an affidavit in the case

Tells Home Secretary to spell out the action the state proposes to initiate against as many as 1,398 tainted police officials facing criminal cases

Makes it clear to Punjab that the court may have to perform an unpleasant duty if the government fails to act

The HC directions came on two PILs filed against the continuation of tainted Punjab Police officials

Chandigarh, November 2
In a major Rs 800 crore pre-poll bonanza to its employees, the Punjab Government today announced the Assured Career Progression Scheme in the pre-May 28, 2009 format with immediate effect from November 1, 2011.

However, the employees who got consequential benefits under the modified ACP will not be entitled to the same. The Cabinet decided to regularise the services of all daily wage workers and work-charged employees in different departments, boards and corporations. This is in addition to an across-the-board special permanent grade pay of Rs 150 plus allowances, including DA, HRA, up to Pay Band 3 with a grade pay of Rs 5,400. The government decided to extend pensionary benefits to all its employees retiring on or after April 1, 2012, on completion of 25 years of service instead of the present 33 years.

In a special gesture to women employees, the government introduced a special child care leave for one year, in addition to the maternity leave.

The Cabinet announced a handsome package for the Punjab Police personnel, including special permanent grade pay and a special increment, besides manifold increase in conveyance allowance to all ranks. An official spokesperson said the allowances not specifically dealt with by the Fifth Pay Commission would be doubled while those left untouched by the previous commissions shall be hiked by four times.

In a major relief to group ‘D’ employees as well as drivers, the Cabinet decided to grant a special permanent increment to peons, chowkidars and gardeners. The drivers would be entitled to a special allowance of Rs 1,400 per month.

The Cabinet gave its nod to a special permanent increment to all police personnel in service as on March 31, 2012. This would be in addition to a Rs 150 special grade pay to all employees in Pay Band 3 (Rs 10,300-34,800) with the grade pay of Rs 5,400. Besides, their conveyance allowance would be made on a par with the ministerial staff. The HRA admissible to employees serving within the MC limits of Patiala and Bathinda has been hiked to 20 per cent. If an employee entitled to rent-free accommodation is not given any, he will get an additional benefit.

Cabinet decided to regularise the services of all daily wage workers and work-charged employees in different departments, boards and corporations

This is in addition to an across-the-board special permanent grade pay of Rs 150 plus allowances, including DA, HRA, up to Pay Band 3 with a grade pay of Rs 5,400

Pensionary benefits to all employees retiring on or after April 1, 2012, on completion of 25 years of service instead of the present 33 years

Moga, November 2
Almost all Congress leaders at a party rally here today praised social activist Anna Hazare for his efforts to mobilise civil society against corruption.

President of the Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) Captain Amarinder Singh, evidently relieved over Anna’s announcement that his team would not campaign against any particular party, said that the Gandhian was welcome in the state any time.

Senior party leader and CWC member Jagmeet Singh Brar, lauding Anna’s role in awakening the Indian society on corruption, announced that the Congress had finalised the draft of the Lok Pal Bill, incorporating the main points in the draft Jan Lok Pal Bill to make it more effective.

Leader of the Opposition in the Vidhan Sabha Rajinder Kaur Bhattal said it was the Congress government in Punjab which had introduced the institution of the Lok Pal in the state, but the SAD-BJP government had diluted its powers “to protect vested interests”.

Party affairs incharge Gulchain Singh Charak while comparing Anna to Mahatma Gandhi, claimed that the Congress was committed to uprooting corruption.

Amarinder lashed out at CM Parkash Singh Badal and his son Sukhbir Badal for the dance show by “scantily dressed women” at the inaugural function of the Kabaddi World Cup in Bathinda.

“They (the Badals) have stooped so low as to organise dances by scantily dressed women to draw crowds,” he remarked. He accused the Badals of behaving like dictators and going on a stone laying spree across the state.

Charak claimed that the party stood as one and would win the elections on its own. Among others who addressed the gathering were president of the Punjab Mahila Congress Dr Malti Thapar, former MLA Vijay Sathi and Congress MLAs Darshan Singh Brar, Joginder Pal Jain, Naresh Kataria and Malkit Singh Dakha. Local party leader Dr Harjot Kamal presented a memento to Capt Amarinder while Jain presented him a ‘lathi’.

Zora Chittran (Gurdaspur), November 2
Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal slammed PPCC chief Capt Amarinder Singh for using unparliamentary language against him and his kin. The CM, who was here to attend the village’s annual festival, said: “I am of Amarinder’s father’s age and he should show respect to those elder to him, irrespective of their party affiliations. I suggest that he takes lessons on how to address those senior to him in age. I have stopped my party activists from retaliating.”

He noted that when Capt Amarinder Singh was in the SAD after he left the Congress in protest against Operation Bluestar in 1986, he never used harsh language. “Sensing defeat in the coming assembly elections, the PPCC chief is venting his ire against SAD leaders in sheer frustration,” the CM said. Qadian MLA Lakhbir Singh Lodhinangal said though he was upset with the PPCC chief, he had been told by Badal not to use abusive language against him.

An angry Chief Minister said the PPCC chief “does not even spare womenfolk of my family. It is high time he realises his folly. With defeat staring in his face, the former CM is getting jittery each passing day”.

With the code of conduct likely to come into force in the next few weeks, the Chief Minister was on a foundation stone laying spree in this constituency with 10 assembly segments. The CM laid the foundation stone of a 66 KV grid station at Shahpur Gorayan in Dera Baba Nanak from where Agriculture Minister Sucha Singh Langah is almost certain to contest.

He also laid the foundation stone of the Dorangla-Agwan stretch to be constructed by the Mandi Board at a cost of Rs 10.21 crore.

Patiala/Bathinda, Nov 2
Tall claims of the state government’s concern about the environment and earnest efforts to bring down the air pollution level in the state were exposed at the inaugural function of the second edition of the Kabaddi World Cup. The function witnessed bursting of crackers three times during yesterday’s show. The inaugural ceremony, arrival of Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal and Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan was marked by a glittering display of fireworks and bursting of crackers.

The duration of the fireworks show was restricted to just a few minutes but it was obvious that the firecrackers burst during the inaugural ceremony polluted the atmosphere in Bathinda city. All through the programme, The Tribune team observed that the fumes from crackers affected those who were standing on the rooftops of nearby houses and the spectators at the opening ceremony. Furthermore, with a view to making it a surprise, the organisers burst crackers from random directions which resulted in the smoke covering even the VVIP gallery section.

Before Diwali, it was the Punjab Pollution Control Board (PPCB) Chairman K.S.Pannu, who had taken an initiative by sending a letter to the SGPC, requesting it to replace the traditional firework display with an alternative. Pannu’s contention was that besides affecting the health of the devotees, the fireworks show could adversely affect the buildings of the historical Harmandar Sahib Complex. Subsequently, the SGPC reduced the duration of the fireworks show from 30 minutes to 15 minutes this Diwali. The PPCB, which directly comes under the purview of the state government, had not only requested the SGPC to replace the bursting of crackers but had also launched a campaign to spread awareness among the masses to celebrate an eco-friendly Diwali by not bursting crackers at all.

“It is surprising that the PPCB did not issue any advisory pertaining to the bursting of crackers at the inaugural ceremony of the Kabaddi World Cup,” said several environmentalists.

Since the PPCB chairman, KS Pannu, is out of country, the Board Member Secretary, Dr Babu Ram, when contacted refused to comment on the matter. Other PPCB officials too expressed their helplessness to make any statement on this issue.

The inaugural function of the Kabbadi World Cup in Bathinda witnessed elaborate fireworks

The PPCB chose to keep mum, much to the chagrin of environmentalists

It did not issue any advisory pertaining to the fireworks at the ceremony

People’s Party of Punjab seeks suggestions for poll manifesto
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 2
The People’s Party of Punjab (PPP) has invited suggestions from the public towards the finalisation of its manifesto for the coming assembly elections.

“This move is the first of its kind, with people being invited to be part of the decision-making process,” PPP chief Manpreet Badal claimed.

Manpreet said while the broad framework of the manifesto had been formulated and many aspects of the party had already been announced in various forums and meetings all over the state, it was time to convert the manifesto into a genuine “people’s document”.

Chandigarh, November 2
Hailing the issuance of notices to Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal and Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal on a PIL claiming the transport policy had been tweaked to favour the Badals, People’s Party of Punjab president Manpreet Badal today said the father-son duo would have to give an account of their “ill-gotten” wealth.

Manpreet, in a statement here, said the mere fact that the Punjab and Haryana High Court had issued notices to the CM and Deputy CM showed that the Badals prima facie had a “role” in manipulating the transport policy.

In a separate statement, Manpreet also condemned the SAD’s way of mourning for the 1984 riot victims by getting a film star to dance at the launch of the kabaddi cup. “I am all for promoting kabaddi, but the manner in which it is being done is wrong. The Akalis are behaving like ancient Roman emperors who would hold gladiatorial contests or fights between men and lions so as to distract the attention of the common man from the essential problems of food, safety and livelihood,” he added.

Amritsar, November 2
The Khalra Mission Organisation (KMO) today warned the ruling SAD against allotting a party ticket to former SSP Izhar Alam in the coming Assembly elections, while announcing that if the SAD fielded Alam they would protest against it in all the 117 assembly constituencies of the state.

Addressing a press conference here, KMO patron Paramjeet Kaur Khalra and chief Harmandeep Singh Sarhali said the state government has challenged the Sikh community by “publicly giving a clean chit” to former SSP Izhar Alam and Vigilance chief Sumedh Singh Saini. They said they would also move the court after seeking a legal opinion to check the entry of such “tainted cops” in the political arena. They said the SAD had assured the people that a probe into fake encounters prior to 1997 Assembly polls would be ordered. But today the ruling party is not “only giving them party posts but also ticket for the elections”.

By resorting to such acts, the SAD is following in the footsteps of the Congress, which had rewarded the culprits of the 1984 anti-Sikh riots, they alleged. The KMO demanded that the government should order an inquiry by a sitting high court judge into all the “illegal acts” perpetrated by Saini and Alam during their stints in the Punjab police.

Meanwhile, on the recent death of Kuldeep Singh Bachre, a key witness in Khalra case, Paramjeet Kaur said though he died a natural death, he was under a lot of stress for quite some time. She alleged that he was under the constant watch of the police and other agencies and that he was being mentally harassed. She sought a CBI inquiry into his death.

Ludhiana, November 2
As the state goes to the polls early next year, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders are all set to visit the city this month. While BJP national president Nitin Gadkari will visit the city on November 5, senior BJP leader LK Advani will address a rally in here on November 13. Local leaders, vying for the party ticket, are reportedly preparing for a show of strength during the two occasions.

BJP district president Rajiv Katna said that Nitin Gadkari would attend a meeting of the state executive body at the Rotary Club.

“The meeting will be attended by BJP national vice-president Shanta Kumar, BJP ministers and district presidents to chalk out a strategy for coming the assembly elections,” informed Katna.

Advani’s Jan Chetna Yatra will reach the city on November 13 and the veteran leader will address a rally at the Daresi Ground the same evening. Advani will spend the night in the city.

Amritsar, November 2
Industrialists, manufacturers, exporters and importers of the border region welcomed Pakistan’s move to grant the Most Favoured Nation (MFN) status to India.

They were unanimous in their opinion that it would boost bilateral trade between the neighbouring nations as exports from India would grow while Pakistan would be able to import items at comparatively cheaper rates.

Former CII chairman
(Punjab chapter) Gunbir Singh said that the total trade between India and Pakistan stood at about US $ 2.5 billion. He added that indirect trade was even higher but with the MFN status, this would be channnelised which would help businessmen on both sides.

He said Punjab’s pharmaceutical, engineering goods and agrarian commodities like food grains and perishable items could be exported through the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post (JCP).

Punjab Small Scale Industry Development Board Director Raman Gupta said that trading was being done earlier as per the positive list containing over 1,000 items released by the Pakistan government. Now the positive list would go and the Pakistan government would replace it with a negative list, he said. Only when we get to know the items in the negative list, we will be able to ascertain the actual gains, he added.

Gupta said there were about 1.20 lakh registered engineering goods manufacturing units in the state and many of them were facing closure due to stagnation. These units could be rejuvenated as Pakistan imported a large number of engineering goods from other countries, he said.

He added that Pakistan had limited success in trade with China because of lingual and geographical barriers.

Indo-Pak Chamber of Commerce President BK Bajaj said that trade benefits would percolate to the ground level if the Pakistan government expedites construction of the Integrated Check Post (ICP) on its side.

Indo-Pak Exporters’ Association President Om Prakash Arora said that the move would curtail custom duty and more number of items would be added to the trading list.

Faridkot, November 2
Five days after The Tribune highlighted the troubles of a promising national-level kabaddi player who met with cervical injuries in the playground during the national kabaddi championship in Patiala 10 years ago, leaving her wheelchair-ridden for life, Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Badal today presented a cheque for Rs 1 lakh as financial assistance to Jaspreet Kaur. “I feel very bad that such a talented player who met with an irrecoverable cervical injury in November 2001, was not given due recognition at the time when Punjab is hosting the Kabaddi World Cup,” said Sukhbir Badal while giving her the cheque.

Jaspreet, who was once known as a wonderful “stopper” in kabaddi had earned a final goal for the Punjab kabaddi team and won the national kabbadi championship at Patiala in 2001. On Wednesday, when the Nehru Stadium in Faridkot was the playground for the start of the Kabaddi World Cup and the first match between six nation teams and the audience from all around the district reached the town to watch the match, there was no invitation for Jaspreet Kaur.

Though her village is at a distance of just four km from Faridkot, there was no arrangement for this wheelchair-ridden kabaddi player to reach Faridkot to be able to watch the match.

Riding her wheelchair, she reached the Nehru Stadium at around 3 pm, an hour after the start of the kabaddi matches. Once she was in the audience, she grabbed the Deputy CM’s attention. The state Sports Department authorities and the district administration were on their toes to give special treatment to the girl. Besides promising her many ‘facilities’, including a concrete road leading to her house as it was not possible to ride a wheelchair on the kutcha muddy road, the district administration and Punjab Kabaddi Association president Sikander Singh Malooka also promised a government job to the girl. The district administration was quick in getting the Rs 1-lakh cheque ready and the deputy CM handed it over to
Jaspreet.

Chandigarh, November 2
The State Election Commissioner Ashok Kumar Dubey submitted his resignation to Governor Shivraj Patil here today. Sources said the resignation will be effective from November 15. Dubey was set to retire in mid-December.

When contacted, Dubey said he had chosen to resign a month prior to the end of his tenure as he was going abroad and was not sure whether he would return by then. Dubey is a 1972 batch IAS officer who had been appointed as the State Election Commissioner in 2006 during Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government.

Sources said the Excise and Taxation Commissioner, Shivinder Singh Brar, is likely to be appointed as the next State Election Commissioner. The process for appointing Brar to the post had been initiated. Brar is a 1977 batch IAS officer who is due to retire from service in February 2012.

Considered close to the Badal family, at one point of time Shivinder Singh was a strong contender for the post of Chief Secretary, Punjab, the sources added.

About the officer

AK Dubey, a 1972 batch IAS officer, was appointed State Election Commissioner in 2006 during the Capt Amarinder Singh-led Congress government

Sources say Excise and Taxation Commissioner Shivinder Singh Brar is likely to be appointed in
his place

Ludhiana, November 2
Installing a mobile phone jammer at the high-security jail in Nabha is giving a testing time to the Prison Department.

Amidst criticism that the department has been delaying the installation of jammers in prisons across the state, Jail Minister Hira Singh Gabria said, “The process of installing a jammer has been initiated in Nabha jail on a trial basis. Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has been roped in for the project. However, the jammer is causing a network problem for mobile subscribers living in the vicinity of the jail. Due to complaints, we had to stall the project for the time being”.

He said technicians were on job to restrict the frequency of mobile jammer within the jail premises.

“Jammers would be introduced in other jails as well if Nabha jail brings out positive results,” said Gabria.

Sources said the move to install a jammer in the high-security Nabha jail was made following intelligence inputs and record of calls made from inside the jail premises.

“We are conducting tests. The jail houses hardcore criminals, many of whom have been sentenced for terror-related activities. The system is in place and we are working for the proper functioning of the jammer,” said Jagjit Singh, IG prison.

Patiala, November 2
With a view to ending the parking woes in the city, the Municipal Corporation authorities have claimed that the comprehensive mobility plan (CMP) for Patiala is in its final stages. According to top MC officials, once the CMP is sanctioned, the recommendations would be implemented in different phases after which the problem of traffic jams, especially of parking, would be resolved.

Presently, there are just a couple of parking lots in the city, following which the commuters have to bear the brunt of getting stranded in long traffic jams. "During the past one decade, the vehicular population in Patiala has increased manifold and sufficient parking lots have not been set up. Consequently, the present traffic situation is pathetic," said Rajan Sharma, a resident.

A survey has brought to light that main traffic bottlenecks in the walled city are bus stand roundabout, Mall Road stretch near Kali Devi Temple, railway station road, Gurdwara Dukhnivaran Sahib, Adalat Bazaar, Sheranwala Gate and some lanes in the Chhoti Baradari area.

"Till date, the civic body has failed to provide parking lots in busy markets of the city. If we park our vehicles on the road, traffic policemen issue a challan, but nobody is ready to look into the problem. The locals are left with no choice but to park their vehicles on the roads when there are no parking lots in most of the markets, barring Leela Bhawan and Adalat Bazaar," said Heena Rastogi, an entrepreneur.

In the absence of parking lots, traffic chaos remains the order of the day. "I fail to understand why the civic body is not paying attention towards the most crucial problem of ensuring the smooth flow of the traffic," said OP Raheja, an octogenarian.

However, Ajit Pal Sing Kohli, Patiala Mayor, said to end the problem of parking and traffic chaos, Egis India Consulting Engineers Pvt. Ltd was entrusted to prepare a CMP for the city last year. "The CMP would provide us the details about various kinds of traffic corridors like pedestrian facilities, bicycle tracks, carriageway widening, requirement of the railway under-bridges, canal bridges, traffic lights, subways and roads that need to be declared one way," he said.

Kohli further said the CMP was in its final stages and "once we get the final copy of the plan, whatever is recommended will be implemented to streamline the traffic. In our endeavour, we will also coordinate with the traffic police."

The SSP along with other officials verifies the height of a candidate during the recruitment drive.

Fatehgarh Sahib, November 2
The process for the recruitment of 154 police constables in Fatehgarh Sahib District started here at the grounds of Baba Banda Singh Bahadur Engineering College grounds. On the first day 800 candidates appeared for the physical efficiency test (PET) which comprised the 1600-metre race, long jump and
high jump.

The Senior Superintendent of Police R.S. Khatra, who was supervising the recruitment drive, said that in Fatehgarh Sahib, 4112 candidates had applied for 154 posts and out of these 3582 candidates were issued roll numbers. He said though the basic qualification is just 10 Plus 2 but graduates and postgraduates too applied in large numbers. He said the PET would be taken in the batches of 800 candidates daily and would continue for five days.

The SSP said that the craze of the youths to join the police is due to the new pay scales, promotions and transparency in the recruitment process. He said that every candidate with the basic qualification will get ten marks and any one with an extra qualification or height would be given up to 15 additional marks. Thereafter, they will go for the interview which will carry only 4 marks. He said the recruitment process would be transparent and the information about each candidate would be put on the website of the Punjab Police.

A stall put up by artists from a tsunami-hit village in Tamil Nadu at the
craft mela in Patiala. A Tribune photograph

Patiala, November 2
While the craft mela being organised at Sheesh Mahal here provides a platform to the artists to showcase their culture and talent, it means a lot more for artisans from Annal Salai village in Tamil Nadu, most of whom are tsunami victims.

These artisans are engaged in making scented candles and incense sticks. The tragedy had turned their world upside down, but they didn’t give up the hope and are working hard to sustain their families.

Working for an NGO, Aurodham, Rajesh Nair, who is at the craft mela with his candles and sticks, has many stories to tell about these brave women and the way they have adopted this profession to move ahead in life. He said, “His NGO had taken up the task of providing raw material for manufacturing scanted candles and sticks to these women for helping them return to the mainstream. Around 120 women residing in this village have taken up this task. These candles are not just sold in the Indian market but are also exported to Germany and France”.

He said most of the women had either witnessed the tragic demise of their family members or suffered immense loss
during the tsunami tragedy. Several other housewives in the village had also
taken up this task to earn a respectable living, he added.

Amit Pratap Singh from Delhi, another member of the NGO, said such events were important for them in order to get bigger orders. “The prices of these candles and sticks range between Rs 30 and Rs
500 and the best part is that they are oil-based and are not injurious to health, unlike chemical-based candles. As of now, the response has not been
very good, but we are hoping that the sale would pick up in the coming days,” added
Amit.

Amritsar Improvement Trust Case
Explain if charge sheet is as per SC directions, Punjab told
HC tells state to file an affidavit with the requisite details by Jan 25 nextTribune News Service

Chandigarh, November 2
The Punjab and Haryana High Court today asked the State of Punjab to explain whether the charge sheet prepared by the Punjab Police in the Amritsar Improvement Trust case was in accordance with the directions issued by the apex court.

Justice KC Puri also asked the state to elaborate which part of the charge sheet, prepared by the Punjab Police against Punjab’s former Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh, was independent of Punjab Assembly’s special committee report.

Justice Puri asked the state to file an affidavit giving the requisite details by January 25 next. The directions came during the resumed hearing of a petition filed by Capt Amarinder Singh.

The latter is seeking quashing of the FIR registered against him by the Punjab Police.

In April last, the Supreme Court had held the expulsion of Capt Amarinder from the state assembly as “constitutionally invalid” and ordered restoration of his membership.

On September 28, 2010, the High Court had asked Punjab to give details of the material collected by it, independent of the recommendations made by the Vidhan Sabha Committee that had eventually led to the filing of the FIR against the former CM.

Counsel for Punjab had taken the stand that the Supreme Court's order did not imply that the investigation should come to a halt. On the other hand, Capt Amarinder’s lawyer APS Deol, had averred that the very basis of the
FIR ceased to exist in view of the Supreme Court verdict.

Referring to the Supreme Court's order, Deol had contended that all the actions emanating from the sub-committee's report were illegal.

Seeking quashing of the FIR dated September 11, 2008, on charges of forgery, cheating and criminal conspiracy and under various provisions of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, Capt Amarinder had averred that there was not a single word in the challan against him with regard to pecuniary benefits.

Bathinda, November 2
The Mansa police today claimed to have arrested the bus driver from Tarn Taran with Rs 4.42 lakh fake currency in his possession. The accused has been identified as Satnam Singh of Gazal village in Tarn Taran.

The seized currency was in the denomination of Rs 1000. The CIA in charge of Mansa, Jagdeesh Sharma said that the accused is deployed as a driver (on a contract basis) with the PRTC. He said that the accused was arrested from near Thuthianwali village. The Mansa SSP SPS Parmar said that the currency appears to be close to the original and it is the handiwork of some experts.

The driver might have come to deliver the booty to someone in the surrounding slum area as the poor labourers usually fail to make out the difference between an original and a fake currency note, said the SSP. “He might have come to meet someone to deliver the packet of fake money but an inquiry about the modus operandi and others involved in the crime is yet to be conducted”, he said. “Last month too the Mansa city police had seized fake currency of Rs 1.10 lakh. Taking a cue from the previous FIR registered we have arrested yesterday’s accused,” he added.

The accused would be sent to a joint interrogation centre in Amritsar for further interrogation.

Though he has been remanded into police custody for three days at Mansa after he was produced before the local Chief Judicial Magistrate.

Preliminary investigations reveal the Pakistan connection in the fake currency case as the accused is a resident of the border area near Pakistan, said the police officials. When he was asked as to how the police managed to make a difference between the fake currency and the original, after the arresting of the accused, the SSP Parmar said it is their experience and training that helped them in detecting the fake currency.

A local banker however said that the police must keep a UB lamp which could help them identifying fake currency without error. Police denied having any such gadget with them.